导出博客文章ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Receiver Antonio Brown is well aware of the Pittsburgh
Steelers track record of successfully mounting late-season playoff pushes.When
December rolls around, the Steelers traditionally heat up.The goal is to
continue to get hot, Brown said. We know whats at stake. We know whats expected
of us. And we want to finish strong.Following a four-game swoon, the Steelers
(7-5) are on a roll in having won three straight to move into a tie with
Baltimore atop the AFC North in preparing to travel to play the Buffalo Bills
(6-6) on Sunday.This is no time for a letdown, especially after an efficient
24-14 win over the New York Giants .You know how important these games are for
us in terms of positioning, coach Mike Tomlin said. Like we talked about openly
last week, December football: Getting into that mentality and understanding what
December football is like.Since 2000, the Steelers have combined to go 46-18
over their final four games of a season. And theyve only twice had two or fewer
wins over the seasons final quarter, going 1/3 in both 2012 and 2007.Thats not
been the case in Buffalo, where the Bills inability to produce a finishing kick
has been a contributing factor to their 16-season playoff drought, the NFLs
longest active streak.Since 2000, the Bills are a combined 25-39 in the seasons
final quarter, and have won more than two of their final four games once. That
happened in 2004 when Buffalo was on a 6-0 roll before being eliminated from
contention with a season-ending home loss to a Steelers team that rested its
starters after having already secured its playoff spot.This experience right
here could be the start of something new, Bills linebacker Lorenzo Alexander
said. Thats what were trying to do, is to take seize of it right now, this
opportunity that we have.The Bills have left little margin for error in having
to win out and get help from other teams to have a shot at the postseason.They
must also rebound from a dreadful collapse at Oakland, where Buffalo squandered
a 15-point third-quarter lead in a 38-24 loss .TESTY TAYLOR: Bills quarterback
Tyrod Taylor isnt taking kindly to criticism.Im done talking, the second-year
starter tersely said shortly after ending his 10-minute weekly news conference
during which he faced numerous questions regarding his inconsistent play. Taylor
is overseeing the NFLs worst-ranked passing attack which, in his defense, has
been depleted by injuries.Whats concerning is how little impact Taylor has had
influencing wins. His numbers are similar whether the Bills win or lose.In six
wins, he has 1,000 yards passing and eight touchdowns (including two rushing).
In six losses, he has 1,292 yards passing and nine touchdowns (four rushing).The
big difference is the Bills NFL-leading rushing attack has 424 more yards in its
six wins than losses.SHADY vs. JUICE: Two of the NFLs most dynamic running backs
are squaring off. Buffalos LeSean McCoy leads the NFL in averaging 5.5 yards per
carry, while Pittsburghs LeVeon Bell is averaging 145 yards from scrimmage since
missing the first three games because of an NFL suspension.Thats a bad man right
there, McCoy said of Bell.McCoy is no slouch, having already topped 100 yards
rushing five times and 100 yards from scrimmage in seven times.WINTER
WONDERLAND: Snows in the forecast this weekend, and thats fine for Steelers
quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.Its fun to play in the snow, said Roethlisberger,
who recalled growing up watching Bills Hall of Famer Jim Kelly competing in the
frosty elements. I wouldnt want to be anywhere else.SEEKING SACK HELP: The Bills
are coming off their first game of the season without a sack. And cornerback
Nickell Robey-Coleman knows its never easy hauling down Roethlisberger, whos
been sacked just 16 times this season.Roethlisbergers 6-foot-5, 240-pound frame
is particularly daunting for the 5-foot-8, 165-pound Robey-Coleman.Im going to
let you know right now, Im not big enough to bring him down, he said with a
laugh. Im going to need the cavalry to come and help me out a little bit. I
might be able to probably pull down his shoulder sleeve, but thats about
it.TURNING THE CORNER: Pittsburghs rejuvenated secondary held the Giants in
check last week thanks in part to cornerback Ross Cockrell . Drafted by Buffalo
in 2014, he was cut loose in the 2015 preseason and picked up by
Pittsburgh.Bills coach Rex Ryan isnt surprised by Cockrells success.I get the
brilliant idea that maybe we should stash him on the practice squad, Ryan said.
As soon as we did that, guess what? I thought no one had tape on him.
Unfortunately for us, Pittsburgh picked him up.---AP Sports Writer Will Graves
in Pittsburgh contributed to this report.---For more NFL coverage:
http://www.pro32.ap.org and
http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL
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last season, his second as a regular in the lineup. RENTON, Wash. -- Thomas
Rawls is back practicing with Seattle for the first time since Week 2. C.J.
Prosise showed last week that he could be a solution for the Seahawks
underachieving run game.And Christine Michael has once again been discarded by
the Seahawks.There are definitive changes that Seattle has made in an attempt to
spark the 30th-ranked running offense in the NFL, centered on the belief that
the combo of Rawls and Prosise can be the answer.Were going with guys that we
want to go with, Seattle coach Pete Carroll said. Were excited about where were
moving and think its going to fit together really well. Youll find out. Youll
have a chance to see what you think here in a couple weeks.The makeover of
Seattles run game took a drastic turn in the past few days. First was Prosise
becoming the primary ball carrier in last Sundays 31-24 victory over New England
, relegating Michael to a supporting role. Prosise had 17 carries for 66 yards,
while Michael was on the field for only 11 plays and touched the ball just six
times. Seattle finished with 96 yards rushing as a team, which is still a meager
total compared to what the Seahawks have done in the past, but was their highest
since Week 3.It was clear that a shift was happening and Michaels time as the
primary running back was ending, despite rushing for 469 yards and six
touchdowns. But the move to waive Michael and replace him on the roster with
undrafted rookie Troymaine Pope was a clear indication of what Seattle wants the
hierarchy to be going forward.C.J. did a really good job. Hes doing the things
we like seeing in him. We look forward to continue growing with him. Thats one,
Carroll said. Thomas coming back, thats two, and were all really excited about
that. Weve been waiting for that to happen.A year ago, Rawls was a breakout
star, rushing for 830 yards and four touchdowns in seven starts while filling in
for injured starter Marshawn Lynch. Rawls was on pace for a 1,000-yard season,
despite getting limited carries early, before sufferiing a broken ankle in
December against Baltimore.ddddddddddddAssuming he makes it through practice
without setbacks, Rawls isnt likely to be thrown back into carrying a huge load
against Philadelphia. Before getting hurt in the first half of the Week 2 loss
at Los Angeles, Rawls had just 19 carries for 25 yards and no run of longer than
eight yards.But how the carries are split appears to be less of a concern after
what Prosise showed against New England. There were numerous questions about the
one-time wide receiver who converted to running back at Notre Dame, most notably
whether he had the toughness to be more than a third-down back.That seemed to be
answered with one play in the first quarter when Prosise caught a short pass,
raced down the sideline and lowered his shoulder into Duron Harmon and sent the
defensive back sprawling.I was being physical, running downhill and initiating
contact, Prosise said. Thats something Ive been working on my game to get better
at.The play resonated with his teammates, who erupted on the sideline after
seeing Prosise show a level of physical play that was sometimes missing with
Michael.Our whole sideline exploded in excitement about that, wide receiver Doug
Baldwin said. Football is a violent sport and when you see things like that in
that nature from guys you really havent seen anything from it gets you
excited.Game notes Carroll expected LT Bradley Sowell (knee) and TE Luke Willson
(knee) to be available this week. But he did not commit to whether Sowell will
return to left tackle or if rookie George Fant will continue to start. Carroll
noted that Fant had no assignment mistakes in the win over New England. ... DE
Michael Bennett (knee) is hoping to return next week against Tampa Bay. ... SS
Kam Chancellor was named NFC defensive player of the week.---For more NFL
coverage:
http://www.pro32.ap.org and
http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '
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